InfoAnda - China sentences quake activist to 5 years' jail

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Braxton Miller's scoring strikes power Ohio State to 24-23 lead vs. Michigan | 27 November 2011
Scuffles in Bangladesh opposition general strike | | 27 June 2010
ADP says investigating data breach | | 16 June 2011

Michael J. Fox to star in TV comedy as dad with Parkinson's | | 21 August 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : China sentences quake activist to 5 years' jail

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam China sentences quake activist to 5 years' jail By GILLIAN WONG,Associated Press Writer - Wednesday, February 10 Send IM Story Print BEIJING – A Chinese court Tuesday sentenced an activist who investigated the deaths of thousands of schoolchildren in the country's massive 2008 earthquake to five years in jail for inciting subversion of state power, the man's lawyer said. The United States deplored the sentence handed down to Tan Zuoren by a court in southwestern Sichuan province, saying such convictions were politically motivated and urging China to immediately release the activist and others similarly prosecuted. Attorney Pu Zhiqiang said Tan was convicted and sentenced Tuesday by the Chengdu Intermediate Court. Tan's trial in August had concluded with no ruling, during which police detained and threatened his supporters. The conviction of inciting subversion of state power was based on Tan's activities in recent years to draw attention to the 1989 student-led demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square that ended in a deadly military crackdown. China routinely uses such broad and vaguely defined charges of subversion to imprison dissidents, sometimes for years. But Tan's supporters and human rights groups believe authorities were trying to silence him for his investigation into the collapse of schools in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck in Sichuan province in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 dead or missing. Tan estimated at least 5,600 students were among the dead, while a figure released by the government last May put the count at 5,335. Tan, 56, started his investigation in December 2008 and hoped to complete it before the May 12 anniversary of the quake the following year, but he was detained in late March. "Tan thinks one of the reasons behind this case is that he was leading an investigation into the poorly built schools after the earthquake, which would have embarrassed the local government in Chengdu," Pu said. Critics allege that shoddy construction, enabled by corruption, caused several schools to collapse while buildings nearby remained intact _ a politically sensitive theory that the government has tried to quash, fearing it could undermine the admiration and goodwill it earned after its massive rescue effort. But activists and parents _ many of whom lost their only children in the quake _ have repeatedly demanded those responsible for shoddy construction be investigated and punished. Those who've pressed the issue have been detained, harassed and threatened by police and thugs believed to be hired by local officials. Pu said Tan would appeal the court's verdict, which centered around Tan's questioning of how authorities handled the 1989 Tiananmen protests: an essay he had written about it in 2007 and a blood drive in 2008 he had organized with others in Chengdu to commemorate the anniversary. Tan had initially also been accused of defaming the government in interviews with foreign news outlets following the quake, but the court dropped that allegation, Pu said. "The court was very smart. They took out any mention of the earthquake from the verdict because they are afraid of referring to it," Pu said. An officer from the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu was at the courthouse for Tan's sentencing but "did not gain entry," according to U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson. Chinese police officers tried to block nine Hong Kong journalists from interviewing Pu outside the courthouse, Hong Kong's radio RTHK said. RTHK said their reporter filmed the scuffle on her mobile phone, but the phone was confiscated and the footage deleted. The reporters were led to a room inside the courthouse and released after the verdict was announced. Calls to the court rang unanswered Tuesday. The U.S. government was dismayed by the sentence handed down to Tan, Stevenson said, adding he is the latest in a series of activists to be jailed for the peaceful exercise of rights guaranteed them by the Chinese constitution. "Persecution of individuals for the peaceful expression of political views is inconsistent with internationally recognized norms of human rights. The United States condemns these convictions," Stevenson said. "We call on the Chinese government to immediately release Tan Zuoren and other Chinese citizens who have been imprisoned on baseless, politically motivated charges." Amnesty International also urged Chinese authorities to release Tan, saying his case highlighted China's use of vague and broad laws to silence dissenting voices. "The Chinese authorities cannot continue to claim that they are dealing with human rights defenders according to the law when they violate so many of their own legal procedures in cases like this," the organization's Asia-Pacific deputy director, Roseann Rife, said in an e-mailed statement. In a related case, the same court rejected the appeal of Huang Qi, a prominent dissident who criticized the government's response to the Sichuan earthquake. Huang had appealed against a three-year jail sentence he was handed in November on the charge of illegally possessing state secrets, his lawyer Mo Shaoping said. Mo said he was notified of the court's decision in a letter he received Tuesday and that no hearing had been held. Huang, founder of a human rights Web site, was detained in June 2008 and had previously served a five-year prison sentence on subversion charges linked to politically sensitive articles posted on his site. Since his release in 2005, Huang has supported a wide range of causes, including aiding families of those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and publicizing the complaints of farmers involved in land disputes with authorities. ___ Associated Press writer Min Lee contributed to this report from Hong Kong. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Sri Lanka's president dissolves parliament AP - 36 minutes ago Study: Pop culture helps Indonesia fight terrorism AP - 1 hour 15 minutes ago Cambodia asks US to cancel $339M debt from 1970s AP - 2 hours 32 minutes ago Bad liquor kills 8 on Indonesia's Java island AP - 2 hours 40 minutes ago Stranded panda lured to safety in China AP - 2 hours 45 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Opel unveils turnaround plan, 8,300 jobs slashed Pitt, Jolie sue British paper over split claims French intellectual caught quoting fake philosopher Third-hand smoke also bad for you: study Jackson doctor denies manslaughter charge More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Toyota faces fresh questions over recall response Study confirms link between maternal age and autism Sugary soft drinks linked to pancreatic cancer: study Third-hand smoke also bad for you: study Thain at helm, CIT to prepay 750 million dollars of debt More Most Viewed » Fury heats up after new AIG bonuses More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Tuesday, 9 February 2010
West Bank to hold municipal elections July 17
In rare TV advertising foray, Google runs Super Bowl ad
Study confirms link between maternal age and autism
Iran's reformist leaders reject links to foreigners
Barnes & Noble's 'Nook' coming to stores this week
Internet prompts the publishing itch in over-60s
Palestinians set terms for talks as violence flares |
Yemen al Qaeda urges jihad, wants Red Sea blocked |
Palestinians want peace talks to focus on borders
Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader to hit stores
Disney, Google eye stake in China bus media firm
Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
Intel Israel exports jump 145 pct, seeks grant for expansion
Vodafone Enterprise signs 4-year Oracle deal
Pressure grows for Iran sanctions over atomic plans
Iran enrichment plan sparks sanctions threat
Saudi rights panel take up child bride case |
Frightened Afghans flee offensive in opium valley
Haiti studies Colombian town for quake rebuilding |
Iraqi PM: Appeals panel can review election law
Huge recovery effort revives China's quake zone
Sri Lankan opposition leader Fonseka arrested
China finds 170 more tons of tainted milk powder
Taiwan's birth rate hits record low in 2009
NY Gov. Paterson won't resign, spokeswoman says
Bus plunges down ravine in south China, killing 7
Ag Secretary pushes school nutrition plan
AP NewsAlert
Report: Toyota plans to recall 300,000 Priuses
Barzee pleads guilty to charge in Smart case
Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in Kashmir
Official: Toll should stand at 5 in plant blast
Cleared drug agent in Ohio hopes return to duty
Pakistan: 6 militants targeting Americans arrested
New federal climate change agency forming
AP NewsAlert
Former Philly officer to be charged with murder
Investigators hunt cause of giant US blast
APNewsBreak: Officer to retrieve Edwards sex tape
Taylor Lautner in 'Stretch Armstrong' movie: studio
Reports: Toyota plans to recall 300,000 Priuses
Hollywood names up for Olivier theatre awards
Chinese firm adopts much-loved panda for 60,000 dollars
Report: Toyota plans to recall 300,000 Priuses
Super Bowl is most watched TV show ever
Jackson doctor charged in singer's death |
Doctor finally facing charge in Jackson death
Sam Worthington to star in 'Texas Killing Fields'
Jolie, Pitt sue British newspaper for libel |
Record 106.5 million Americans watch Super Bowl |
Up in the Air lifts spirits of some unemployed |
Dubai closes top deck at world's tallest tower
Taylor Lautner in 'Stretch Armstrong' movie: studio
Japanese monk gets down with the beat for Buddhism
Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader to hit stores
Japanese monk gets down with the beat for Buddhism |
Nominees for the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards
Hollywood names up for Olivier theatre awards
Broadcaster fined over killing a rat on TV show |
Key powers push for tougher sanctions against Iran
Estonia's eurozone moves raise concern in Latvia
Intel, IBM roll out new computer network chips
All eyes on Tymoshenko after Ukraine vote defeat
Britain's Afghan deaths pass Falklands
US magazine circulation slides
Sugary soft drinks linked to pancreatic cancer: study
Iran to stop enrichment if given nuclear fuel
Pressure grows for Iran sanctions over atomic plans |
New EU Commission team to get green light, finally
Startup lets webcams detect people
Tel Aviv "savior" accused of enslaving women
North Korea's Kim pledges to remove nuclear weapons |
Google appeals French book scan decision: lawyer
Abbas mulls peace talks; expects U.S. answers soon |
Thain at helm, CIT to prepay 750 million dollars of debt
Arrested general hell-bent on betrayal: Sri Lanka |
Palestinians set terms for talks as violence flares
Chavez declares electricity emergency in Venezuela |
Toyota faces fresh questions over recall response
Iran's resistance keeps up cat-and-mouse web game |
China quake activist jailed for inciting subversion |
China builds lighthouse to back East China Sea claim |
China quake activist jailed for inciting subversion
Fortune tellers: Year of Tiger isn't Tiger's year
Australia spends $173 million on airport security
Sri Lanka's presidential loser faces court martial
Activists ambush Japanese whalers in Antarctic seas
Report: NKorea's Kim reiterates disarmament pledge
Ex-army chief to face Sri Lanka court martial
Astronauts inspect shuttle on way to space station
Cattle battle: NZealand has more cows than kiwis
Disney, Google eye stake in China bus media firm |
North Korea's Kim pledges to remove nuclear weapons
Rep. John Murtha, voice for veterans, dies at 77
Seats at a premium on planes, trains out of DC
Cross-sections of Maine giant elm to be displayed
Man rescued after 3 days in snow-covered SUV in CO
NY mom accused of beer run guilty in tot's death
Congressman: Murtha's intestine damaged in surgery
Obama's healthcare summit sets stage for end-game
Neb. Democrat joins GOP to oppose labor nominee
Negligence? Conn. gas blast criminal probe begins
Keith Carradine's ex-wife sentenced for perjury
Jolie, Pitt sue British newspaper for libel
China's biggest bank tightens lending controls
China discloses buying spree in US companies
Japan govt: Prius hybrids to be recalled worldwide
Jackson doctor pleads not guilty in singer's death
Shanghai pension deficit, retirement age raise plan
Andre Leon Talley to judge 'Top Model'
Sheen charged with assaulting wife; they hug in court
FACTBOX-S.Korea policymakers' comments on economy, policy
Record Super Bowl telecast tops "M*A*S*H" record
`Dear John' delivers No. 1 debut with $30.5M
PAKISTAN
Keith Carradine's ex-wife sentenced for perjury
Judge says Charlie Sheen can see wife
S.Korea inflation pressures build, PPI hits 10-mth high
Jackson doctor pleads not guilty in singer's death |
'Bioshock' sequel returns to morally-battered Rapture
Sheen charged with assaulting wife; they hug in court |
Record 106.5 million Americans watch Super Bowl
NZ to reform taxes but rules out land, gains tax
China evading US duties via third nations: group
Record Super Bowl telecast tops M*A*S*H record |
Japan plane seat maker admits false safety data
Google warns Chinese knock-off to stop using logo
French intellectual caught quoting fake philosopher
NATO remains 'serious' threat to Russia: official
Ukraine's Tymoshenko girds to contest result |
Gamer to pay Nintendo $1.3 mln for illegal upload
Third-hand smoke also bad for you: study
Jackson doctor denies manslaughter charge
Over 60 feared dead in Afghan avalanches |
Moscow says U.S. missile shield aimed at Russia |
Most banned Iraqi poll candidates' appeals rejected |
Cyprus president says will press on with talks |
Yemen getting tougher with Somalis on Qaeda fears |
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa struggles |
Iran's resistance keeps up cat-and-mouse Web game |
Google warns Chinese knock-off to stop using logo |
Afghan avalanches kill at least 28, strand 1,500
1 dead after student groups clash in Bangladesh
First lady begins fight against childhood obesity
UN appeals for $538M in Pakistan humanitarian aid
Afghan avalanches kill at least 28, strands 1,500
More snow to hit storm-battered east coast
Rights group: Vedanta mine would hurt India tribes
Minn. bridge collapse widow adopts Haitian twins
Shanghai dissident held as city tightens security
Obama to sign proclamation on childhood obesity
TV show fined in Australia for killing, eating rat
Lawmaker: Taiwan still wants US subs
The nation's weather
China sentences quake activist to 5 years' jail
Officials ask Anthem to justify rate hike in Calif
New round of storms threatens SoCal foothill towns
SI swimsuit edition puts Roddick's wife on cover
Pakistani o/n rates lower; rupee firms; stocks down
Jolie, Pitt sue British newspaper
India car sales hit record high lifted by recovery
China auto sales hit record high in January
Ringo Starr honored with Walk of Fame star
Japan Airlines rejects Delta, stays with American
Doubts over China coal deal with Australian miner
Taiwan's young malt a surprise whisky winner
Cambodian firm plans $100 million sugar plant JV
Cambodia asks US to cancel $339 million debt
German exports post steepest fall since 1950
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Jolie, Pitt sue British newspaper
Absent Polanski to dominate Berlin film festival
Absent Polanski to dominate Berlin film festival |
Kung fu thriller leads Hong Kong award nominations
Jolie, Pitt sue British newspaper |
HK studio behind 'TMNT,' 'Astro Boy' shuts down
Czech beer drinkers shrug off crisis to stay top of world
No sour grapes for Lebanon's wine-making monks
Avatar loses box office crown to Dear John |
Peru toasts pisco boom in annual cocktail day
Hollywood names up for Olivier theater awards |
Rapper Lil Wayne to be sentenced in NYC gun case
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01